A drawer that fits your stuff
Give tools and small supplies a place of their own. The photo shows a Gridfinity setup; Rebuilt generates compatible bins to fit your layout.
PLA for indoor use · Modular bins · Free files
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Best Things To 3D Print
A little useful.
A little just for fun.
Make a drawer that finally fits your tools, a tiny moving octopus or a telescope you can use. Pick a project below for the files, what you need and a few tips before you print.
A phone stand that folds flat
Prop up your phone with room for its charging cable. The linked design prints flat and opens into a hinged stand.
Print in place · Check phone fit · Free files
A planter with a water reserve
Give a windowsill plant its own printed pot and water reservoir. The design includes an optional floating water-level indicator.
No supports · Leak-test first · Free files
A tiny octopus that moves
A colorful little octopus with tentacles that move straight from the print bed. Start with the original size to keep its joints working.
Print in place · No supports · Free files
A clip that locks with a lever
A cam lever closes this reusable clip around a folded bag. Print the full-size version, then free its three connected parts.
Moving mechanism · Some supports · Free files
Make your own chess set
A flat board and low-profile pieces make a compact game. Use contrasting colors so both sides are easy to read.
PLA · Color changes · Free files
A photo that lights up
Turn your own photo into a relief that appears against a light. The pictured flower is an example of the technique.
White filament · Backlight needed · Free generator
A little boat with a purpose
Print the tugboat, then inspect its roof, bow and openings. Keep it to compare the results of your next settings change.
No supports · Visual print check · Free files
STL ZIP · 4.2 MB
By Creative Tools · CC0
Keep the dice on the table
Open the box to raise the tower, then fold it away with your dice inside. Rotating counters help keep score.
Magnets and screws · Some supports · Free files
Build a new marble run each time
Connect printed blocks into ramps, tunnels and drops. Start with a short track, then add new routes a few blocks at a time.
No supports · Steel ball required · Free files
Build a telescope for the night sky
Printed supports help turn bought mirrors and hardware into a working telescope. Plan for assembly, a stable mount and optical alignment.
Bought optics required · Assembly and alignment · Free files
Print the body. Play the guitar.
Build a guitar around a printed honeycomb body. Prusa’s example uses a conventional neck, pickups and hardware.
Guitar hardware required · Multiple printed parts · Free files
Printing tips for each project
For a first useful print, choose the cable clip or one Gridfinity bin. For a moving model, try the octopus at its original size. Save the telescope and guitar for when you are comfortable with fit checks and assembly.
Gridfinity: start with one bin
Measure the inside of your drawer, including the clearance above it when closed. Print one baseplate section and one plain bin before filling the drawer. Our Gridfinity Rebuilt source ZIP includes the OpenSCAD files and original license. Use OpenSCAD to customize compatible bins and baseplates. Plain bins are a useful starting point; shaped tool holders can follow once the layout works.
Cute Mini Octopus: keep the original size
Follow McGybeer’s orientation and support instructions. Shrinking an articulated model also shrinks the gaps that let its joints move. Watch the small tentacle sections during the first layer and stop if they lift. Let the print cool before gently freeing joints. This model can release small pieces, so it is unsuitable for children who may put it in their mouths.
Cable clip: check the fit before making a row
Download Simon B’s parametric cable clip and print one to check the fit. The listing includes an editable FreeCAD file if you need a different fit. Allow a gentle cable bend and check the adhesive on an inconspicuous part of the desk before mounting it. Use the clip to organize a loose cable, without pulling on a connector.
Lithophane: test a small crop of your photo
Choose a sharp image with one clear subject. Generate a small version in Lithophane Maker, then follow its thickness and printing guidance. White filament makes a sensible starting point. Hold the result against a window before committing to a larger print. For a light box, use a cool-running commercial low-voltage LED with suitable clearance from the plastic.
3DBenchy: use it to compare settings
Download the 3DBenchy STL ZIP and print the original model without supports. Look at the cabin roof for sagging, the bow for roughness and the openings for strings. Keep your settings with the finished print so the next comparison means something. For moving or fitted parts, a separate Maker’s Muse clearance gauge (paid download) is more directly useful than the boat.
Hadley: gather the optics before the big prints
Read the complete assembly guide and match the mirrors, rods and fasteners to the selected files. Print the supplied hardware-fit test first. The project needs a stable mount, mirror alignment and an eyepiece as well as printed parts. Never point the telescope at the Sun; this project is for night-sky observing.
Prusacaster: buy and measure the hardware first
Use the documented guitar kit or check every mating dimension before printing. Follow the designer’s structural printing guidance, especially for the center section that connects the neck and bridge. This is a project for learning about instrument construction as well as printing; it also requires conventional guitar assembly and setup.
Folding phone stand: before you print
Keep the original size for your first print and check that your phone and case fit the cradle. Choose the version with built-in supports or add your own as directed. Let it cool before gently opening the hinges.
Self-watering planter: before you print
Print the inner pot, outer reservoir and separate siphons as directed. Test the reservoir over a sink before placing it on furniture. The optional printed float may need sealing; check the designer’s alternative float suggestion and match watering to your plant.
Print-in-place bag clip: before you print
Use the full-size model and the designer’s 0.15 mm layer height. Inspect the supplied 3MF support settings for your printer, or reproduce them when slicing the STL. Choose a larger-clearance variant if your moving parts tend to fuse.
Minimalist chess set: before you print
Check the board footprint against your print bed. The designer uses a layer color change for the checkerboard and prints the pieces upside down for the bed texture. Print one piece first to check its symbols and surface finish.
Folding dice tower: before you print
Read the hardware list before printing: the design uses magnets and screws. The cart needs supports, and the moving fit depends on accurate printing. Keep loose magnets and small parts away from young children; secure them as the assembly guide directs.
Modular marble drop: before you print
Start with a few connecting blocks and a short track. The design is sized for a 7 mm steel ball; verify the fit before printing a large set. Keep the ball and loose blocks away from young children. Check first-layer expansion if blocks resist fitting.
Two more ideas to make your own
A board-game insert: Board Game Storage Designer helps you create trays in OpenSCAD. Measure the exact edition, expansions and sleeved cards. Print a shallow test tray before filling the box with full-height containers.
A map of a favorite place: TouchTerrain turns elevation data into printable terrain files. Pick a small region with recognizable relief. A mountain trail or island is often easier to read than a whole country squeezed onto one plate.
Before you start a print
Open the original listing, read its instructions and check completed makes. Use your own slicer for time and filament estimates; the same file can take very different amounts on different machines. For multipart projects, include every plate and any bought hardware in the plan.
Use the designer’s recommended material. Our filament guide helps explain the options, and the first-print guide covers setup and slicing. Start with small indoor projects where failure is easy to spot and inexpensive to fix.
Follow your printer’s supervision instructions. Treat heat, electrical parts and serious loads as separate engineering questions: a successful-looking print is not proof of safety. Read each design’s license before sharing a remix or selling prints; a free download does not automatically allow commercial use.
For more models, browse our guide to STL download sites. Search for the specific object or problem you want to solve, then check the individual design before committing your filament.